Simon Coy Mills, Jr.

Simon Coy Mills, Jr., 72, of Cropwell, AL, passed away on December 27, 2023, at his home after fighting his battle with leukemia. He was born on April 6, 1951, in Moundville, AL to the late Simon Coy Mills, Sr. and Margaret Pearl Abernathy Mills.

He was preceded in death by his mother-in-law and father-in-law, William Ford Wiggins and Elizabeth "Lib" Sharp Wiggins and brother, Robert Glenn Mills.

Coy is survived by his wife of 51 years, Pam Wiggins Mills; their children, Jeremy Ford Mills (Katie) of Franklin, NC and Genta Mills Stanfield (Scott) of Auburn, AL; and his golden doodle, Reggie. He is also survived by his sister, Margie Mills Mitchell; sister-in-law, Patricia Wiggins Crawford (Wayne); nieces, Melena Crawford Lewis (Stan), Julie Crawford Price, Melinda Mitchell Dodd (Alan), Rebecca Mitchell, and Elizabeth Mitchell Mitchum (Donnie Barksdale); nephew, John Mitchell, and several great nieces and nephews.

Coy grew up in Moundville, AL and graduated from Hale County High School in 1969. He had a 30 year career in public education as both a teacher and administrator. He worked with Hale County Schools, Arab City Schools, Eufaula City Schools, Talladega County Schools, and Coweta County, GA Schools. After retiring, Coy enjoyed a second career with Lathan Associates Architects as their Chief Field Inspector.

Coy grew up in the Methodist church in Moundville, AL and continued to have a strong Christian faith throughout his life. He was a lifelong Alabama fan, an avid turkey hunter, and a member of the Talladega Superspeedway High-Banks Fire Safety Team.

Coy's wish was to be cremated and his life celebrated with family and friends. The Celebration of Life event will be held at 1:00 pm, January 6, 2024, at The Gold Room, located inside The Grill at Countryside Farm, 230 Hamby Road, Cropwell, AL 35054. Friends and family are invited to come and share their best Coy Mills stories. At Coy's request, please dress in casual clothing.

In lieu of flowers, his request was for memorials to be made to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, the Wounded Warrior Project, or Rainbow Omega, Inc.

He will be greatly missed by his family, friends, and Reggie.

Online condolences may be made at www.usreyfuneralhome.com.

Usrey Funeral Home of Talladega is assisting his family.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Eufaula Tribune on Jan. 2, 2024.

Memories and Condolences
for Simon Mills

Sponsored by Usrey Brown Funeral Service.

2 Entries

Susan Bishop

February 19, 2024

I worked at the Eufaula City School System under Coy. I was a Special Education teacher at Bluff City Elementary. Coy was a top notch human being!

Jimmy Edwards

January 3, 2024

Coy was one of the most, if not the most caring, trustworthy, loving man I have ever known. I am so grateful man I have ever known. I met him at Calhoun Campers a business in Oxford, Alabama. I had sold my business and liquidated everything I owned in Florida and came back to Alabama to be a caregiver to both my Mom and Dad. One morning while working at Calhoun Campers Johnny Ponder and this big tall guy walked in the front door of the parts store of the camper store. I knew Johnny but, didn´t know Coy. Having owned a fleet of sailboats and a bareboat sailing charters and a sailing school on Oakaloosa Island between Ft. Walton and Destin, Florida. I had developed a habit of looking at people´s shoes. I got so good at it I could pick out a sailor from a power boater and could tell by their shoes if they were anything else but, a sailor. I spoke and shook hands with Johnny. Then I focused on Coy, I stuck my hand out and introduced myself to him I told him I was Jimmy Edwards, Mike´s brother in law and Connie´s brother. He responded and said hey I´m Coy Mills. Then I asked him, how long have you been sailing? He looked at me kinda funny and not ever seeing or meeting each other before, he asked me how did I know he was a sailor? I told Coy, by those worn deck shoes he had on. Then the conversation exploded into a sailor´s war stories conversation. He and I had a common bond, a passion for sailing! We became instant buddies and as time went on the next several years became great friends. I lived in Florida for 20 years in the Destin area and moving back to Alabama to look after my parents, I left a lot of friends in Florida. I´ve always played guitar with a band or solo. I played with the same group of guys in Florida in a band called "Alibi" for 16 years.Coming home to Alabama I hooked up with a couple of friends, JT Tyus and Steve Willingham and formed a three piece band. Steve and Paulette Peterson owned Shalimar Yacht Basin Marina called me and ask me to bring the band down to Shalimar, Florida to play for the Billy BowLegs Festival so we did. Coy and Pam came down and came to the marina where the event was taking place. That was an awesome surprise for me because they never mentioned they were coming. We had a blast. Coy and Pam were staying at an Inn that was close to the marina. The next day after the festival I asked them to go sailing and we did. Coy, Pam, Debbie and myself took one of Paulette´s boats an Ericson 30 and went sailing on Choctawhatchee Bay. We had a wonderful time. I have relived that trip many times. I hope they have sailboats in Heaven. Coy and Pam are like family to Debbie and I. We love them so much!

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